Sierra Resort Nabq pictures / info and updates

[queenie40something]

Hi Deb and Rob - agree 100% with what Iain has said. We have been to Egypt and Sharm many times and toyed with the idea of buying last year. I looked at Hurghada 1st as the prices where cheaper but we as a family did not like Hurghada like we do Sharm. I then looked at re sales and ready to move into apartments but the prices were alot dearer than off plan ones. We then decided to go to The Place in the Sun Ex in Birmingham last September where SRE had a stall. We were surprised at the price - with cash discount for 1 bed ground floor with garden - £21,700. We paid a £200 refundable reservation fee there and then as we had already booked our annual October trip to Sharm. We then met with Khaled ( no longer works for SRE ) and he took us to Sierra and showed us around. We then decided for the price we had to go ahead. So far it has been quite painless. I had already appointed Zeiad as my lawyer and when we were there in Oct he arranged for a colleague to meet us at El Tor to get out visas and POA which was really easy. Our completion date should have been March and we are hoping it will be ready when we fly out on 7th June for a week. We will then source the furniture and arrange for it to be installed ready for our annual Oct jaunt ( 7th - 21st ).
We like staying in hotels along the prom in Naama bay as we find this a central area and you can just hop on the minibuses to get to Hadaba, Old Market and Nabq really cheaply ( 30p max ). We really like the Marriott Moutainside. The prom is pedestrianised so no annoying taxis constantly beeping at you. It is lovely and clean and very safe and has lots of lovely restaurants and bars along with Pirates bar at Hilton Fayrouz that sells lager at 6le from 6pm, 7le at 7pm and so on until 10le at 10pm. Also Ghazala beach bar has buy one get one free cocktails between 6 and 9 and has a live singer most nights at 8.30 - does a wicked Robbie Williams!!
There are lots of other developments in Sharm but for the money I dont think you can beat Sierra especially with the facilities such as use of private beach ( at a charge still to be decided ) use of 10 pools, supermarket 40 odd shops on site etc etc. Once you are able to PM click on my name and you will be able.
Any questions please feel free to keep them coming.
BTW in June we will be staying at Tropicana Rosetta on Peace Rd in Naama - more or less opp Hilton Fayrouz - cheap and cheerful - £8 eacha night b n b.
Also the loud awful Russian planes are supposed to be banned from Sharm with effect from next year - hooorraayyy.

[iain]

Morning Alison

just a quick post before continuing with all those outdoor jobs, cleaning the decking, chairs etc, empty the gutters, cut the grass, clean the windows, wash the cars, weed the garden (a two day job alone!) tempting just to sell up and move! Still mustn't complain about the weather.

I've been a bit slow but just noticed updated photos on the sierra site from early April with water in at least one of the pools - looks good. Think the colour of our buildings looks at bit concrete like (compared to the colours of the Sharm Bride hotel for example) but light colours better for the sun I guess.

We'll have to hope that development on the adjacent sites doesn't cause too much dust and dirt when they are working, but again we knew that when we went ahead.

Enjoy the sun - hopefully you can be on a laptop outside today!

Iain

[queenie40something]

Hi Iain - so glad to be back online. You are a great hubby - I will show your post to mine and maybe get his backside into gear LOL.

The pool was filled in the 1st phase blocks 1 - 7. Personally I like the lighter colours and as you say I think the light will bounce off the walls.
We have said all along that realistacally we dont think we will be able to sit out around the pool until everything is nearly finished because of the dust and dirt. Once we have furnished ours we will cover everything with dust sheets when we are not there just to protect the sofas etc.

Great news about the price increases for all of us that have already bought - mine has now increased by £15,000 since we bought it in October so we are very happy about that. Glad we bought when we did and didnt hesitate. We knew prices would increase but not as much as they have done. Think this is the 3rd or 4th price increase now.
Happy days xx

[iain]

MMM well problem is that I should be working but if my main clients aren't in town I have a dilema of driving someone else, in which case my main client will appear as if by magic and I'm then in a mess. So really this is penance for not working!

All the same with weather like this is good to be able to be outside and getting things done even if my back has already siezed up.

Yes I think dust/sand will be a permanent problem anyway in Egypt, I remember visiting offices in Egypt who put think plastic covers on chairs to keep them clean which was fine except that you stuck to the seat and in that heat it was not good!

On the price front it is good news for us but we have to bear in mind that it's the developer putting up prices (and people still prepared to pay them) but it's not until some get sold on the open market that we will really see the market price.

For most of us who are in for mid to long term it's just nice to think these might be going up whilst most property and investments in the UK are probably going down for now.

Back to the weeds....

Iain

[Lsab]

A tip for cleaning off the dust - don't wash windows, balconies etc - you just end up with a mud soup. Use a soft brush. I don't think I've ever seen anyone here wash windows etc - apart from shops ocassionally. A quick brush down every day or two is much easier.

[queenie40something]

Thanks for the tip Linda - I will buy a soft broom especially for the windows. Cant stand doing them here - imagine doing those patio doors with the sun on them. Mine will be full of smears LOL.

[iain]

I always wondered why so many Egypyian men wandered about with feather dusters! It's to clean their windscreens and cars

Iain

[Lsab]

You must have been quite worried - and now you know

[iain]

Originally Posted by lsab

You must have been quite worried - and now you know

Well some years ago I was showing an Eyptian customer around beautiful England and walking around a cricket pitch when he insisted on holding my hand (quite normal for Egyptian men and just a show of friendship). I tried to explain that we might attract some strange looks and when he finally get the point he was mortified! Of course in London we wouldn't have got a second look...

Always worth trying to learn a little about the local culture.

Sorry this has absolutely nothing to do with this thread

Iain

[queenie40something]

Hi all - we are out in Sharm on 7th June for a week. If anyone wants me to take pics of their apartments post your numbers here and I will do my best. I will also try and get up to La Strada, Al Khan and Jasmine centres and take some pics as well.
As I will be sourcing furniture I will get some prices and post pics etc as well.